Light-cord-concealing chain device

ABSTRACT

In a preferred embodiment, a chain-link element having a shape making it easily combinable with other such chain-link elements to produce a chain of the chain-link devices in linear series with one another attaching either directly to one another in the series or connected by an interconnecting link element such as a ring or an I-shaped structure, each of the chain-link devices including centrally thereof an aperture receivable of a light cord such that the light cord is extendable straight upwardly and downwardly through the center of the chain along the longitudinal axis of the series of interconnected chain-link devices.

United States Patent [191 Peters Nov. 13, 1973 [76] Inventor: Donald E.Peters, 81 Rustic PL,

Staten Island, N.Y. 10308 [22] Filed: Mar. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:236,677

[52] U.S. Cl. 59/78.l,'59/80 [51] Int. Cl. F16g 15/14 [58] Field ofSearch 59/78.1, 78, 80, 59/82, 91, 90, 35; 191/12 C; 248/49, 317

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 23,303 3/1859 Lancelott59/35 929,968 8/1909 Mornath I 1 59/78.l

1,047,568 12/1912 Riess 1 I 59/78.1 1,187,122 6/1916 Andersen 248/317LIGHT-CORD-CONCEALING CHAIN DEVICE I Primary Examiner-Charles W. LanhamAssistant Examiner-Gene P. Crosby Att0meyWilliam T. Hough et al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT In a preferred embodiment, a chain-link element having ashape making it easily combinable with other such chain-link elements toproduce a chain of the chain-link devices in linear series with oneanother attaching either directly to one another in the series orconnected by an interconnecting link element such as a ring oranI-shaped structure, each of the chain-link devices including centrallythereof an aperture receivable of a light cord such that the light cordis extendable straight upwardly and downwardly through the center of thechain along the longitudinal axis of the series of interconnectedchain-link devices.

13 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEUnuv 13 1913 3.771, 309

sum 1 or 2 PATENTEDuuv 13 1913 3, 771. 309

sum 2 [1F 2 LIGHT-CORD-CONCEALING CHAIN DEVICE This invention relates toa novel structure, particularly adaptable to hanging light fixtures.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Prior to the present invention there haveexisted various chain-link devices of differing structures constructedparticularly for the concealing of a light cord at least sufficientlythat the light cord is less unsightly while the chain concurrentlyoffers support to a light fixture to which the electric cord isconnected. Typical of such patents are for example the U.S. Pat. No.1,718,368, in which two bilateral upright members are brought togetheron opposite sides of the cord to define an upright channel extendingbetween the two members brought together, and the U.S. Pat. No.1,047,568 in which each of the rather conventional links have anaperture in the upper and lower portion of each link to which the cordis insertable, and the U.S. Pat. No. 929,968 in which the cord istotally concealed by complicated link structures and intermediatelinking structures matable with one another, as well as the US. Pat. No.966,626 which basically is similar to the US. Pat. No. 1,047,568, alsodiscloses a series of links having upper and lower peripheral openingsadditionally including however a tubular structure circled through thelength of the consecutive linked chain links.

With regard to for example each of the U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,047,568 and966,626, for example, as is typically true with any conventional chain,the chain is normally preformed with all links already attached and itis less than easy or convenient or economical to either shorten a chainby removing links or to lengthen a chain or to conveniently go throughthe motions of inserting a cord through the various apertures of theconsecutive links of the chain. With former chains particularly of thetype described above there has also been the problem either of chafingby virtue of the light cord having consecutive links adjacent to oneanother a common point on the cord twisting in opposite directions suchas to chafe cord and create and electrical or fire hazard, and there hasbeen also the problem of the matter of economics in the cost ofmanufacture of links where the apertures and/or structures are such thatcomplicated machinery and/or manual labor is required thereby placingsuch devices out of realistic pricing ranges for ready and extensive useby the public. Additionally, the need for a multiplicity of parts notonly complicates the manufacture but also adds to the cost.Additionally, of particular concern to the electricians or otherinstallers of such fixtures and chains, there is the problem of keepingup with as well as purchasing multiple parts particularly in the rightproportions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toovercome one or more of the above-type problems and/or difficulties.

Another object of the present invention is a link structure combinablewith other such structures to form a complete link.

Another object is to obtain a link requiring few if any additional partsfor the forming of a chain of any desired length.

Another object is to obtain a link-device easily joinable with orremovable from other link devices of similar structure.

Another object is to obtain a decorative chain for at least partiallyconcealing unsightly light cords of light fixtures.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and followingdisclosure.

One or more of the preceding objects are obtained by the invention asdefined herein.

Broadly the invention includes a new type chainforming structure and/orcombination of structures, in a preferred embodiment having an aperturetherethrough for receiving an electric cord such as would support orlead to a light fixture. The basic link structure element of the presentinvention is a sheet-type material having either inwardly extendingslits from various points around the periphery of the sheet of aboutsymmetrical configuration such as a square, a circle (i.e., a disk), orhaving cut-out portions such as to form shapes such as a star, aplus-sign (i.e., a cross), or the like, with at least a plurality ofdownwardly extending or extendable legs and a plurality of upwardlyextending or extendable legs. That is to say, the composition of thesheet from which thev central portion and radially extending legs areformed may be of a substantially rigid material such that by preformingthe respective legs of the structure may be preshaped into for exampletwo oppositely located upwardly angled legs or separated from oneanother by two downwardly angled oppositely located legs, or on theother hand the material may be such that it has resiliency such as wouldbe characteristic of spring-steel alone or coated with a plastic such aspolypropylene or of polypropylene alone such that although formed in afiat state, the legs are resiliently bendable downwardly for connectingto v the legs of similar next consecutive structures in the formation ofa chain, whereby the resiliency serves to attempt to return the legs totheir normal position thereby offering a form of support to the lowerhanging chain links and to any weight or chandelier or the likesupported on a lower end thereof. In one embodiment, each link structurehas at about a peripheral end of its respective legs, typically fourlegs, a projection and head thereto for inserting into a slot andlocking itself into the slot or alternatively a slot such as typically aT- shaped slot through which the enlarged head slips through thecross-portion of the T and the neck of the projection slides down thebase of the T to a locked position of adjacent link structures. In otherembodiments, all legs might merely include either linear slots orT-shaped slots suchas noted above or may alternately just include anaperture through which a ring, for example, may be suitably inserted forthe linking of consecutive link structures. Where each of the membersincludes one or more of the narrow slots or T- shaped slots, there maybe an intermediate linking structure other than a ring such as typicallyan I-shaped member or typically with an arrow-shaped or pointedendshaped structure including a locking leg, for example.

The invention may be better understood by reference to the followingfigures.

THE FIGURES FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of a typicalcombination of serially arranged and linked-linkstructures of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a typical side view as taken along lines 22 ofFIG. 1. p FIG. 3 illustrates a typical side view as taken along lines23-13 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 an elevation plan view of a single link structure such as thatutilized in FIG. I as it appears in an initial cutout form when eithermade of a resilient planar sheet metal or resilient plastic.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side perspective view of an alternative embodimentto that of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6A illustrates a side view taken along lines 6A-6A of FIG. 5,whereas FIG. 68 illustrates a view as taken along lines 6B-6B of FIG.6A.

FIG. 7 illustrates in exploded view typically. a first link structure ofFIG. 6B and the intermediate linking I-shaped connector, as shown inside view corresponding to that of FIG. 6B.

FIG. 8 illustrates an elevation plan view of a cut-out either of aresilient metal or plastic or of a non-resilient material prior tobending, the element being represented in its bended state and connectedby a connector to another identical cut-out structure as illustrated inFIG. 5.

FIG. 9 illustrates an elevation plan view of an alternative embodimentin which no connector is required, the end portions of each of theradially extending legs having either a connector projection associatedtherewith or a connector projection receiving T-slot.

FIG. 10 illustrates a typical structure of any shape but represented inthis Figure as diskshaped having four connector sites for receivingconnectors such as illustrated in FIGS. 6A, 6B, or 7, or for receivingthe connector leg-ends of a structure such as illustrated in FIG. 9,there being additionally the central hole therein for passage of anelectric cord and there being screw holes also present.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In greaterv detail, FIG. 1illustrates a typical chain portion 12 composed of interconnector linksstructures I 14a and 14b having typically downwardly turned legs 16a and16b, 160a and 16bb, and upwardly turned legs 16c and 16d and 16cc and16dd, with connectors 18a and 18b connecting respectively legs 16a and16cc and legs 16b and 161111 by the rings 18a passing through apertures20a'and 20cc, with connector 18b extending through holes 20b and 201111.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1illustrating the same parts similarly, from a view taken along lines 33,FIG. 3 illustrates the same parts.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment and corresponds in viewthereof and in corresponding parts to that of FIG. 1. However, in theparticular embodiment of FIG. 5, the connector-receiving slots such as20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d, all are of one unified space continuous with acentral electric cord receivable space 22a, corresponding to the hole22a of FIG. 4. Also in the embodiment of FIG. 5, connectors 18a and 18bare l-shaped curved members having enlarged T-shaped heads 24b, and 24a,typically. Although the embodiment of FIG. 5 illustrates primarily thelegs being principally downwardly turned and upwardly turnedrespectively of each link structure, there is also a slight degree oftwist in a preferred embodiment as illustrated, but the twist may besubstantially greater than that illustrated. Showing different viewsthereof, FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B illustrate the same corresponding parts ofFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which there is merely aT-shaped slot 20b" for receipt of a T projection 24dd', for example,with the base or leg of the T pointing radially outwardly from thecenter of the link structure. FIG. 4 illustrates the typical appearanceof the link structure of FIG. 1 before bending or in such an embodimentin which the composition of the link structure is resilient so that itappears in this form except when in use by virtue of connectors holdingthe bended shape when the links are subjected to a weight such as thatof the weight of a chandelier.

Similarly, FIG. 8 corresponds to the appearance before bending orflexing of the link structure of the type utilized in FIG. 5. FIG. 9illustrates an alternative and preferred embodiment in which noconnectors are necessary because the connecting mechanism or means are apart of each of the respective leg(s). Thus, FIGS. 4, 8 and 9respectively illustrate typical basic cut-out or molded structures 14,14' and 14".

FIG. 10 illustrates a typical mount disc 26 locatable at either or eachof opposite ends of an assembled chain such as that of FIG. 5, withconnector structures and holes such as structure 28a, hole structures28b, 28c and hole 28d, cord hole 30, and screw holes 32a, 32b, 33c, and33d.

Insulator inserts may if desired, by inserted into the link cord-holes.Typical metals usable are steel, iron, copper, brass, tin, aluminum andthe like. Typical plastics are preferably polypropylene, but also any ofthe acrylics and/or polyvinyls, preferably fireproof.

It is within the scope of the invention to make such modifications, andsubstitutions, and variations or embodiments, shapes, and parts as wouldbe apparent to a person of ordinary skill.

I claim:

1. An electric cord chain-link device comprising in combination: asubstantially thin sheet material having a central annular portiondefining an upright channel and having extending radially laterally aplurality of leg members including at least two separate extending legmembers angling upwardly and at least two other separate leg membersangling downwardly; each of said leg members being shaped at about itsdistal end such that each of said upwardly two angled leg members islinkable to at least one of each of said two downwardly angled legmembers of an adjacent link, and each of said two downwardly angled legmembers is linkable to at least one of each of said two upwardly angledleg members of an adjacent link.

2. A device of claim 1, including attaching means for linking saidupwardly and said downwardly angled members.

3. A device of claim 2, in which said material is at least semi-rigid,in which said sheet composition has an about symmetrical peripheralconfiguration, and in which said upwardly and downwardly angled legmembers alternate along said peripheral configuration.

4. A device of claim 3, in which a substantially flat sheet of aboutsquare shape including radially-inwardly extending slits definingtherebetween radially outwardly extending projections is said sheetmaterial preformed into said central annular portion and said pluralityof leg members, said plurality being said projections.

5. A device of claim 4, in which said projections extend aboutdiagonally outwardly of and from said central portion.

6. A device of claim 5, in which each leg member includes an angularbend thereof.

7. A device of claim 6, including in about a distal terminal portion ofeach of said two upwardly extending leg members and of each of said twodownwardly extending leg members a through-space defined therein of asize and shape receivable of said attaching means.

8. A device of claim 7, in which for each leg member said through-spaceis about T-shaped with the base of the T-shape extending toward a distalend of the respective leg member.

9. A device of claim 8, in which said attaching means includes aplurality of I-shaped elements insertably linkable through said T-shapedthrough-space of each of said two upwardly angled leg members and ofeach of said two downwardly angled leg members.

10. A device of claim 3, in which a substantially flat sheet of aplus-sign shape having four projections are comprised of said legmembers and said central portion.

11. A device of claim 1, in which for said two upwardly angled legmembers each leg members linking means includes at least one connectorinsert having an enlarged head along at least a first one transversedimension and a slot receivable of said enlarged head insert, and inwhich for each of said two downwardly angled leg members each legmembers linking means includes a matable end of a connector in a slot,matable with an upwardly angled leg member of an adjacent link.

12. A chain-link device comprising in combination a substantially thinsheet material having a central portion extending along a substantiallyflat plane and hav ing extending radially laterally therefrom aplurality of leg members including at least two separate extending legmembers angling upwardly and at least two other separate leg membersangling downwardly; each of said leg members being shaped at about itsdistal end such that each of said upwardly two angled leg members islinkable to at least one of each of said two downwardly angled legmembers of an adjacent link, and each of said two downwardly angled legmembers is linkable to at least one of each of said two upwardly angledleg members of an adjacent link.

13. A chain-link device comprising in combination: a substantially thinsheet material having a central substantially planar portion and havingradially laterally extending from said central portion a plurality ofleg members; said sheet material being of a substantially resilientmaterial such that each of said leg members may be biased to angle inone of upward and downward directions relative to said planar surface;each of said leg members being shaped at about its distal end such thatit is matably attachable to a distal end of a leg member of another saidsheet material radially extending leg of an adjacent link.

1. An electric cord chain-link device comprising in combination: asubstantially thin sheet material having a central annular portiondefining an upright channel and having extending radially laterally aplurality of leg members including at least two separate extending legmembers angling upwardly and at least two other separate leg membersangling downwardly; each of said leg members being shaped at about itsdistal end such that each of said upwardly two angled leg members islinkable to at least one of each of said two downwardly angled legmembers of an adjacent link, and each of said two downwardly angled legmembers is linkable to at least one of each of said two upwardly angledleg members of an adjacent link.
 2. A device of claim 1, includingattaching means for linking said upwardly and said downwardly angledmembers.
 3. A device of claim 2, in which said material is at leastsemi-rigid, in which said sheet composition has an about symmetricalperipheral configuration, and in which said upwardly and downwardlyangled leg members alternate along said peripheral configuration.
 4. Adevice of claim 3, in which a substantially flat sheet of about squareshape including radially-inwardly extending slits defining therebetweenradially outwardly extending projections is said sheet materialpreformed into said central annular portion and said plurality of legmembers, said plurality being said projections.
 5. A device of claim 4,in which said projections extend about diagonally outwardly of and fromsaid central portion.
 6. A device of claim 5, in which each leg memberincludes an angular bend thereof.
 7. A device of claim 6, including inabout a distal terminal portion of each of said two upwardly extendingleg members and of each of said two downwardly extending leg members athrough-space defined therein of a size and shape receivable of saidattaching means.
 8. A device of claim 7, in which for each leg membersaid through-space is about T-shaped with the base of the T-shapeextending toward a distal end of the respective leg member.
 9. A deviceof claim 8, in which said attaching means includes a plurality ofI-shaped elements insertably linkable through said T-shapedthrough-space of each of said two upwardly angled leg members and ofeach of said two downwardly angled leg members.
 10. A device of claim 3,in which a substantially flat sheet of a plus-sign shape having fourprojections are comprised of said leg members and said central portion.11. A device of claim 1, in which for said two upwardly angled legmembers each leg member''s linking means includes at least one connectorinsert having an enlarged head along at least a first one transversedimension and a slot receivable of said enlarged head insert, and inwhich for each of said two downwardly angled leg members each legmember''s linking means includes a matable end of a connector in a slot,matable with an upwardly angled leg member of an adjacent link.
 12. Achain-link device comprising in combination a substantially thin sheetmaterial having a central portion extending along a substantially flatplane and having extending radially laterally therefrom a plurality ofleg members including at least two separate extending leg membersangling upwardly and at least two other separate leg members anglingdownwardly; each of said leg members being shaped at about its distalend such that each of said upwardly two angled leg members is linkableto at least one of each of said two downwardly angled leg members of anadjacent link, and each of said two downwardly angled leg members islinkable to at least one of each of said two upwardly angled leg membersof an adjacent link.
 13. A chain-link device comprising in combination:a substantially thin sheet material having a central substantiallyplanar portion and having radially laterally extending from said centralportion a plurality of leg members; said sheet material being of asubstantially resilient material such that each of said leg members maybe biased to angle in one of upward and downward directions relative tosaid planar surface; each of said leg members being shaped at about itsdistal end such that it is matably attachable to a distal end of a legmember of another said sheet material radially extending leg of anadjacent link.